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Chick-fil-A Is the Most Beloved Fast-Food Chain in America, According to a Brand Intimacy Survey Per the survey, 26.7% of people who visit Chick-fil-A said they were willing to pay up to 20% more at the chain.

By Kate Taylor

This story originally appeared on Business Insider

Hollis Johnson via Business Insider

Chick-fil-A is winning over customers' hearts and stomachs.

The chicken chain rose to the No. 1 spot among fast-food chains in MBLM's 2019 Brand Intimacy study. The marketing agency analyzes people's emotional bonds with brands, surveying 6,200 people in the U.S., Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.

Chick-fil-A ranked tenth of all brands analyzed by MBLM, the highest of any food or beverage brand. Dunkin' was the second most intimate of the fast-food brands, Starbucks was third, and McDonald's was fourth.

MBLM found that Chick-fil-A had a wide appeal among various demographics. 26.7% of people who visit Chick-fil-A said they were willing to pay up to 20% more at the chain, compared to 14.5% on average at other fast-food chains.

"Chick-fil-A is clearly an intimate brand to watch," MBLM wrote in a report released on Wednesday.

"It has climbed into the Top 10 Most Intimate Brands for the first time and is building a strong profile among a broad range of consumers: women, men, millennials, boomers, and people with a variety of incomes," the report continues. "It has extremely high rates of fusing and price resilience, which demonstrates the attachment users have to the brand."

Chick-fil-A grew revenue by 16.7% in 2018, reaching nearly $10.5 billion in annual sales and becoming the third-largest chain in the U.S. by systemwide sales.

Kate Taylor

Staff Writer. Covers franchise-related trends and topics.

Kate Taylor is a staff writer covering franchises for Entrepreneur.com. Related areas of interest include chain restaurants, franchisee profiles and food trends. Get in touch with tips and feedback via email at ktaylor@entrepreneur.com or on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

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